Mexico City – Rawayyana, a group of Venezuelan immigrants who have been acquired by the Caribbean heat, high.
Late last year, the group just was nominated New album With the beloved Colombian band Bomba Estherio. Two years after the near round of not stopping around the world, Rawayana was preparing for the epic home: festive parties throughout Venezuela that were sold almost as it was announced.
But in December, days before the start of the tour, the band, which always saw its music as a refuge from the turbulent political scene of Venezuela in itself in politics.
The authoritarian leader of Venezuela, Nicholas Maduro, who was criticized by his novels last year after he announced victory in a Forged electionsHe gave a fiery, fiery speech in which he differentiated the band and a successful song that it just released, describing it as “terrible” and insulting the Venezuelan femininity.
Places began to activate Rawayana, which had to cancel their tour.
Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro
(Matias Delacroix / Assocated Press)
“Until another notice, so we say goodbye to our country,” he wrote on social media.
The leader of the Bedouin Bedo Benito said he was sad from Maduro’s attacks, but he was not surprised. The 36-year-old singer and his group’s colleagues are part of the world’s largest diaspora-among approximately 8 million Venezuelans who have fled the political and economic crises fencing over the past decade-and have long have found new ways to disappoint them.
But they knew the Venezuelan, it was nothing if not flexible. Thus, the group’s colleagues captured their tools and continued to do what they always did: we look and play songs for distant citizens who yearn for the sounds of the house.
“There are a lot of ugly things that happen in the world,” Monnegro recently said while in Mexico City with Li SAMET in Bomba Estéreo to promote their new super group, Astropical. “But we are trying to remain optimistic and move from love. We hope that our music will heal.”
Rawayana members in Hollywood on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
(Ringo Chiu/for de los)
The members of Rawayana – Montenegro, Antonio Casas, Andrés Story and Alejandro Abeijón – children when the leftist Hugo Chavez won the presidency in 1998 and began to nationalize the industries of Venezuela and enhance strength.
They started loading the paths on the Internet in the college and soon they got the following. While the country’s political context was increasingly heavy, their wigs and vanquets were light-dominated by dance songs on weekends on the beach and the Checkl cover for Regaytone.
Al -Jabal Al -Aswad said: “For us, music was like the hole of escape.” The band invented the name Rawayana, which I imagined as a remote island away from the real world and its problems. Her first album, in 2011, was called “Licencia Para Ser Libre”. So to be free.
But with the band’s popularity, and began to cooperate with some of the most accomplished musicians in the country, Venezuela was collapsing. In 2013, Chavez died and Maduro took power. The economy decreased, murders rose, and Caracas became one of the most dangerous cities in the world.
The nightlife that was prosperous in the capital, with the clubs of Al -Salis and the darkness full of darkness, became dark. After many members of the band kidnapped for a short period, they decided to leave.
“There was nothing, no chances,” said Montenegro. “The only thing that we can do is singing in special parties for wealthy people who can pay for them, or do government vehicles. We haven’t liked any of these paths.”
The band members lived between Miami and Mexico City. Their paths outside the country – with the help of registration companies that helped buy visas – were easier than the paths of most Venezuelan immigrants, who spread all over the world in search of opportunities and safety.
Rawayana in Latin Grammys in 2024.
(Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Latin Registration)
While he was abroad, Rawayana continued to make music for those who return home – returning to Venezuela when it is possible to play free concerts. But they also became, as Montenegro described it, “the soundtrack for expatriates”.
The band traveled constantly, and played live parties anywhere Venezuelan settled from Barcelona to Omaha, Nib.
Oristis Gomez, a rhythmist born in Fenzia, who wanders with our novels, said that the lives of immigrants are difficult. “People want to come and enjoy as if they were returning to Caracas.”
“Whenever they play, their music is flawless, and vitality is incredible,” said Cesar Andres Rodriguez, the music producer from Venezuela who is now living in Miami. “Everyone is enjoying themselves, dancing. I have never seen a bad offer.”
The band continues to make unconventional sunny pop that provides a fugitive path. “You don’t need a visa to be happy,” “Monteneal and rapper Apache Crohn on the high song.
But our novels have increasingly touched on political issues. A single song in her album for 2021, “Cuando Los Acéfalos Hembomin” (when the permitted) prevails, criticized the veil of the corrupt elite that governs Venezuela, describing the private parties in which the waiter serves “five times more than the pensions of your grandmother.”
The demonstrators appear against the results of the official elections that announce that President Nicholas Maduro won his re -election in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, July 29, 2024, a day after the vote.
(Christian Hernandez / Associated Press)
Last year, with Maduro’s dissatisfaction at the highest level ever, the opposition of Venizula had great hopes to be able to the best in the presidential elections that saw the country.
Evidence gathered by independent observers indicate that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez won easily, but election officials announced the winner. The Venezuelan shouted inside and outside the country.
“Venezuela is in great fraud for many years … Panel. “Unfortunately, we are not surprised by another electoral fraud, we have already seen everything.”
Police demonstrators collide during demonstrations against the results of the official elections that announce the re -election of President Nicolas Maduro, after a day of vote in Caracas, Venezuela, July 29, 2024.
(Matias Delacroix / Assocated Press)
The attacks came from Maduro a few months later. His goal: hit song Rawayana was made with the artist Akpella called “Viadica”.
The song, which became one of the most listened to last year in Latin America, sought to set a new meaning for Slur “Veneco”, which was used to describe Venezuelan immigrants in neighboring countries such as Colombia.
“Where are the women of Vinkan who represent?” Ask the song. “Wherever you go, the whole world knows that it is president.”
“We wanted to use it as a symbol of flexibility,” said Montenegro. “It was so,” I do not care about what you call me. We are the best. a period. “
But Maduro criticized her. “Venezuelan women are called Venezuelane with respect and dignity … and not Venkes!” He said in a march. The leader described the song “insult” and claimed that the band was “trying to distort our identity.”
In the days that Rawayana was forced to cancel the round, the band members were drowned in depression.
Venezuela leaders have already destroyed their country. “Now they were trying to benefit from our success to generate news,” Monnegro said.
But there were good things on the horizon. Like Night Big’s Night in February, when they became the first Venezuelan work Win a grade For the best Latin album or album alternative.
When they accepted the award, Montenegro nominated ten Venezuelan musicians in a Gothic speech and urged its men to preserve their heads.
Then, there was a sudden advertisement for fans of an album with Bomba Estherio.
Last year, SAMET communicated with Rawayana to cooperate on one. Things flowed well in the studio, where they recorded a full album.
Astropical started a tour of Mexico City last month, and it will play Hollywood Paul September 7.
While they were working, musicians were associated with the similarities of their country – the difficulties faced by the Venezuelan now reflecting the violence that afflicted Colombia in the 1990s.
After Rawayana found herself attacked by Maduro, SAMET gave some tips Monnegro.
She said success always comes with difficulties. “The more the tree, the more shade. “
But adversity, she often paved the way for art.
“She said the most influential music comes from difficult situations. ”
For Black Montecine, what matters most of the division’s listeners. He said, “We have the support of the people.” “So I don’t mind it a lot.”
